This entertaining family drama takes place in Kenya, where 10-year-old Xan (Alex Michaeletos) lives happily with his mom and dad, Kristin and Peter (Hope Davis and Campbell Scott), and an assortment of animals on the family farm. Coming home from a camping trip one night, Xan and Peter spot a baby Cheetah separated from its mother. Without hesitation, the two take the bundle of fur home, but Peter warns Xan that they will return the cheetah to the wild once its grown. Duma, which means cheetah in Swahili, quickly becomes a member of the family and follows Xan everywhere. But when Xans idyllic life is interrupted by the death of his father and a move to the city, he determines to return Duma to his natural home, and the adventure takes them across Africa by motorcycle, raft and foot. Their path crosses that of a mysterious stranger, Ripkuna (Eamonn Walker), and Xan must decide whether this native African is a miracle or a threat.

Although Xan abandons his heartbroken mother to follow Duma, his sense of responsibility to make sure Duma reaches safety in his native habitat compels him to leave. All but very young children can enjoy the suspense and danger without witnessing bloody attacks by vicious animals. The film opens with Dumas mother being killed by a pride of lions, and Duma does devour a bloody animal cadaver killed earlier by lions. Sleepy crocodiles swim across a river toward Xan and his companions, but they avoid an attack. A heavy rainstorm prevents Ripkuna and Xan from lighting a fire to keep some stalking lions away until Ripkuna lights up a roll of paper money to start a fire. While there is some sadness, especially when Peter dies, there are no morbid deathbed scenes. This film celebrates the resilience of a boy as he becomes a man, the trust that grows between two strangers, and the wonders of nature. With no offensive language, sex or nudity, Preview wholeheartedly recommends Duma.